Building-block.



THEODORE H. BROWN, OF NORTHFIEL D, MINNESOTA.

Patna"? OFFICE.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed July 22, 1904. Serial N0. 217,724:-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE H. BROWN, of Northfield, Rice county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to building-blocks designed for use in the erection of dwellinghouses, busin .ss-blocks, all kinds of grain- -elevators or storage-houses, and other constructions.

The object of the invention is to provide a block which when built into a wall will be impervious to moisture and frost.

A further object is to reduce the cost of construction by providing nailing-surfaces whercto furring-strips, base-boards, or other interior or exterior finish can be easily and quickly secured.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in providing a building-block havinga continuous airspace included by its thickness and extending the full length and depth of the block.

Further, the invention consists in providing non-conducting pins connecting the inner and outer surfaces of the block to which pins, furring-strips, and interior and exterior finish may be nailed.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building-block embodying my invention, a portion of the block being broken away at one end to show the means for bonding or tying the sections together. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing another form of block adapted for use at the corners of the structure. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the inv: ntion applied to the construction of a chii'nnev.

In the drawings I have shown a block composed of two sections A and B, molded in the usual way, but with an air-space between their inner surfaces. This space, as shown in the figures, extends the full length and depth of the block, and the sections are united or tied together by pins 0, that are laid in the mold when the block is formed and embedded therein and holding the sections in proper alinement with respect to one another. These pins orm the only "anncction between the inner and outer surfaces of the block and are preferably of wood, though any other material that will not transmit frost or heat from the outer to the inner surface of the block will serve the same purpose. The inner ends of the pins C are preferably flush with the inner surface of the block and form nailing-surfaces for furring-strips, base-boards, and other interior or exterior finish. fore serve a double purposethat of binding the sections of the block together and forming nailing-surfaces. When these blocks are built into a wall, there will be a continuous deed-air space around the structure from the top to the bottom, crossed only by the pins that hold the inner and outer sections together. These pins cannot conduct frost or heat or moisture to any appreciable extent, and con-. sequently the inner sections of the blocks will not be aifected by any extremes of heat or cold or moisture to which the outer surfaces may be subjected.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the invention ap'- plied to a form of block having square ends composed of inner sections D and outer longer sections E, that lap by the blocks in the other wall at the corner. T he-pins in these blocks are the same as those heretofore described, except that I have shown them extended through the outer sections of the blocks to the surface to permit the convenient securing of outside finish.

In Fig. 3 I have applied the invention to a chimney, F and G representing the inner and outer block-sections, respectively; but as it would be undesirable to use wood or any combustible material in a chimney construction I prefer to employ tie-bars H, and as the action of frost or moisture need not be con sidered in a chimney these bars may be of metal. A chimney-block in this way will have an air-space extending entirely around the due from the top to the bottom of the chimney, and woodwork may be laid directly upon the outer wall without any danger of becoming overheated.

The building-blocks may be of any desired shape and size, and I do not wish in this ap: plication to confine myself to any part cular outline or configuration, my invention consisting in providing the continuous practically-unobstructed air-space included by the thickness of the blocks and in the binding or tie pins and nailing-surfaces that serve both to unite the block-sections and form securing means for the interior and exterior finish.

The pins there- I claim as my invention- 1. A building-block composed of several sections with an air-space between them and wooden pins embedded in said sections and bridging the space between them, the ends of said pins extending through and being substantially flush with the inner surface of the block whereby a nailing-su rface is formed for the furring-strips, substantially as described.

2. A building-block composed of several sections with an air-space between them and wooden pins bridging said air-space and having their ends embedded in said sections, one end of said pins extending through the outer surface of the block and being substantially I5 flush therewith whereby a nailing-surface is formed for the outside finish, substantially as described.

In witness whereofI have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July, 1904.

THEODORE H. BROWN. In presence of RICHARD PAUL, M. HAGERTY. 

